Passengers aboard a Finnair flight from Helsinki to New Delhi on India's 63rd Republic Day were treated to a live performance by the crew members.

The video, showing the smiling staff dancing to the song 'Deewangi Deewangi' from the movie 'Om Shanti Om', has become an instant hit on YouTube, receiving more than half-a-million hits in just one day.

Helena Kaartinen, the flight attendant who came up with the idea, coordinated rehearsals and even enlisted the help of a former flight attendant friend in Mumbai, who is now a Bollywood teacher.

Kaartinen uploaded videos of the team practising and expert Manish Gawde corrected the choreography ahead of the performance.

"It was a good way to show respect," the Daily mail quoted Kaartinen as telling the New York Times.

She said she was keen to show Indian passengers that the airline did know something about their culture.

The performance took place on a flight on 17th January and was uploaded to Finnair's YouTube channel on 26th January to mark the country's Republic Day.

So far it has received more than 540,000 viewings. (ANI)